Dr Baines will be on a ticket led by Dr Steve Peterson who has also announced Theodore Crane as part of the team.

He said while he had specialised in accounting and teaching accounting at the Orange and Bathurst campuses of Charles Sturt University he had also held several school and faculty leadership roles.

Dr Baines said he was an 'enthusiastic advocate' for regional Australia and Orange.

He said he was married with four school aged children and had been a past-president and current treasurer of the Parents and Citizens Association at Bletchington Public School, where he has also taught special religious education.

While this is his first tilt at local government, he like Dr Peterson, is involved with the Nationals party. "I am a good personal friend of Steve's," he said.

Dr Baines said the current council had done some good work for Orange but he believed there was room for improvement.

He said he was concerned about water security and managing growth in Orange.

"I think we could do that better," he said.

Dr Baines said improving infrastructure, including transport and digital infrastructure, was vital for the future of Orange and regional Australia.

He said he supported the $25 million sports complex being built at Bloomfield but was concerned about the number of trees to be removed. "With the stadium I am generally supportive of the move to Bloomfield."

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